Aug 19-20 Pocono Int'l Speedway.
This event was held by PDA and the M Club. On Friday, we had the opportunity to run 8 30 minute sessions in all the infields (north, south and east). It was pouring rain all day so I only ran 6 of them. It was my first event with the Rx7, so i took it relatively easy. I sure missed the ABS on this day. I only spun 2 times, and i got 2 black flags (illegal passing). On Saturday, we ran the "Long Course" with double infields (north and south) going clockwise direction. I hit 140 mph on the back stretch. I could have went faster but the stock springs/shocks didn't inspre confidence in me. My best timed lap was 1:50:23, but there was so much traffic, that i'm sure i could have gotten in the high 1:40's with some more seat time and less traffic.
This is on the front straight:
Another picture from the front straight:
This is at the end of the front straight, going onto the North infield.
This is going onto the North infield after the front straight. 12 year old stock springs and shocks contribute to a "boat like" sensation:
Friday's weather was monsoon like conditions for the entire day. Standing water in many spots. They even closed the North course in the late day because of all the standing water. I got two wheels off the track on the south course which flung mud up under the hood. I developed a slight miss due to all the water on the electronics, but it cleared up completely for the next day on the Long Course.
My car was damaged at the event. The weather stripping around the windshield could not withstand the 140 mph bursts down the back stretch! it was blowing in the wind, and i was "Meatballed" (black flag, come to pit lane, "Your car is a piece of crap!"). There was only 3 minutes left in the last session of the day so i didn't really loose any seat time. A little blue tape got me home.
I ran in the expert class and we were combined with the instructors, so there were many incredible machines on the track with me.
The car threw this trouble code:
P0123 - Throttle Position Sensor Circuit High Voltage
P1121 - TP Sensor Circuit Intermittent High Voltage
P0107 - Manifold Absolute Pressure [MAP] Sensor Circuit Low Voltage
P0481 - Coolant Fan Relay 2 Control Circuit
I think this is the first year that the turbo neons are competing in the speed world challenge. this guy was practicing at our event:
This is an Ultima, kit car, made in UK, with Hoosier race tires. This is a different car than the one i raced at Lime Rock in 2004.
So i get behind this race car, and i was going faster than him. I spoke to the owner and he hasn't driven it in 1-2 years, so he was rusty:
Howie's first open track event. His cars four wheel drive was perfect for Fridays downpours:
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Hi Tom!!
This was my favorite car of theevent. Total tube chassis race car with old skool GTO body:
